To take the AP or Not to take the AP?

<p>I am currently taking AP Bio class with a very picky teacher and averaging a C in that class. I did horrible and the midterm too. In fact I'm afraid I might get a D for the year and get my application revoke from Oxford of Emory University. </p>

<p>My brother wants me to take the AP test but he doesn't know how bad I'm doing and I don't have the guts to tell him. I kinda want to take it but don't want to do bad. I don't know what to do b/c sometimes I have gotten really good grades on Bio tests and some really bad therefore averaging a C. </p>

<p>Should I take it? Also, would Oxford College of Emory revoke my admission or Virginia Tech?</p>

<p>Taking the AP test has nothing to do with revoking your admission. In fact, at our hs, the AP BIO class is one of, or the, hardest classes- there might be an (as in only one, maybe) A, the rest Bs and Cs. Never Ds because the faint of heart do not take the class to begin with. Anyway, I doubt anyone has ever received less than a 5. Take it back, maybe one 4. The fact that the class is difficult probably means you'll do well on the exam.</p>

<p>Also, I've never heard of anyone getting their admission rescinded because of a C. I doubt a teacher is going to give a hard working senior a D or F in her/her last semester, knowing that it might screw them out of a college education. I would think he would talk to you first and let you know if that's what you're facing. </p>

<p>Talk to your teacher and let him know your concerns. He might be able to alleviate your fears and give you a better idea of how well you can expect to do on the AP exam.</p>

<p>BTW, you won't even get the AP results until mid summer. By that time you'll be packing your suitcases.</p>

<p>my ap bio teacher is awesome but i did have a teacher who seem to purposely mess with my grades. Anyhow, dude...chances of you getting revoked is almost rare. Almost impossible. and like the guy said before, nobody gets rvoked b/c of a C. and just b/c you fail ap test with 1 or 2 it doesn't meant its gonna get your admission revoked. I can said confidently that failing ap exam even can be negliable to your college. It's a such a small factor, besides they won't see it until summer anyhow, so it woudlnt 'matter. same goes for C.</p>

<p>As far as Ap bio goes, i am current taking ap bio. Although its a requirement in our school district, i would suggest taking the ap bio exam. I don't know what book you use, but we use cambell. It has 55 chapters, and ap multiple choices are 60 or so questions. So its basically one question a chapter. And occording to our teacher, the questions won't get too specific. i mean just logically, 55 chapters 60 questions, you know? wish the best</p>

<p>Hook em!</p>

<p>Your AP scores don't even have to be shown to your college ... ever. Take the test. You'll see how much you actually know (or don't know, as the case may be). If you do well, you may want to use the score to skip intro bio. If not, you will know that intro bio is necessary (and the second time around will help cement the concepts). No matter what, though, your AP test score will NOT be used to revoke admission. In my D's school, AP Calc has an agreement with a local university ... students actually earn college credit for the class at no charge (it's kind of a recruiting tool for the university). So kids who get a college A use that rather than their AP score. But the high school requires anyone who takes the AP course to also take the AP exam. Each year, there are several A students with severe senioritis (AP exams are actually right after senior year ends!) who score 1's. It's not because they can't score better --- I believe they think it's kind of a funny thing to do (sort of a final "dig" when they mess up the school's average scores). They still go to Cornell, U of MI, etc. --- they just don't report the score.</p>

<p>Why did you pick "Disgrace" as you log in name?
just curious</p>

<p>Prepare for, and take the test. Also, my son bought a book before the AP History exam, titled something like "Get a 5 on AP History" or similar. He said he never would have gotten a 5 on the test if he had not studied that book because it filled in gaps on very specific info which was on the exam. I assume there is also one for bio. </p>

<p>I agree with the post that says "talk with the teacher". An honest dialogue and request for feedback can never hurt, unless the teacher is a complete tyrant.</p>

<p>Picking up on what hvccgolf said ^, Buy an AP Biology book by Princeton Review or a similar publisher so you can review what will be on the AP exam and hopefully help you in class.</p>

<p>doubleplay I personally know of more than one student who got a 1 on the AP bio test. It is not an easy test. You can take it though and then "hide" your score if you do not do well. Please do not post that everyone gets a 5 on the test when you cannot possibly know that.</p>

<p>Disgrace (that's a terrible username, by the way), another option is to take the AP test but not study for it.</p>

<p>The point here is to use the test as a way of finding out whether you have really learned enough biology to skip the introductory course in college or not. The amount that you've learned may have little to do with your grade in the course.</p>

<p>And don't worry about being rescinded on the basis of your AP test score. That doesn't happen. You do have to be concerned about your grades, though.</p>

<p>ebee, I was talking about our high school, where AP Bio is incredibly time consuming and difficult (grade-wise) but the students are all very successful with the test.</p>

<p>I mean I don't know....even if I score a 3 or a 4 I think Emory University, Oxford College only takes 4 or higher..I right now don't know if I'm gonna get a B. I'm getting a mid to high C but I just suck at science in general. Therefore, say I get a 4 on the exam at best and end up with a "C" - it wouldn't help b/c of my year grade..therefore I might be wasting my time unless I just take it for practice?</p>

<p>As for my user name,Disgrace, I chose it because of 3 thing...
1. I scored poorly on the SAT (500CR, 560 Math, 620 Reading)
2. I got a C in physics and precalc. And got a B! in an easy honors chem class.
3. I got my butt kicked by a wrestler who came in as a freshman state champ wrestler at his weight class - 112 and 103 both in my Junior and Senior YR!</p>

<p>THATS WHY MY USERNAME IS DISGRACE...And the fact I do bad on my midterms and finals esp AP history I/II where I got D;s on the finals and midterms but manage to average B's for both classes.</p>

<p>Disgrace - just a personal comment. You seem to be highly focused on negative issues about your performance and it seems to be permeating your outlook on school, and pending college, in general. I sense you don't want to take the AP test because it might reinforce this "failure" theme. Better not to make the attempt than "fail" in the attempt ? </p>

<p>If you're going to do well in college and life down the road, you cannot be afraid of challenges and the occasional shortfall to expectations. I cannot know where this focus on the negative performance came from, but I think you should try to shake it. As a father of someone you're age, I'm a bit concerned about your mindset. That's not a criticism, but an expression of concern. If you want, PM me and we'll chat off-line.</p>

<p>OP, I have read many of your posts. I agree with hvccgolf. I wonder if you have ever considered seeking counseling or therapy to address and modify your unduly negative perception of yourself.</p>

<p>I never sought counseling...although my brothers think I'm a pessimist and suffer from depression. And my mom thinks I may have ADD or something because she said the doctor said something about me when I was a little kid, but she doesn't remember. My dad said its nothing but a lack of confidence and the fact that I stress too much. I don't know. Maybe its a combination. Or maybe its because I'm really skinny and I'm an outcast at my school.</p>

<p>I would encourage you to give counseling or therapy some thought. I think that you have a lot more to offer than you are giving yourself credit for. A counselor or therapist could help you challenge and modify those pervasive negative conceptions of yourself.</p>

<p>Perhaps your doctor could discuss the idea of counseling with you, and refer you to an experienced and helpful person.</p>

<p>I agree that counseling is a good idea. But I also want to point something out. You will be attending Oxford at Emory, I assume from your posts. First of all, you are to be congratulated on being accepted. You would not have been accepted if they did not feel you had potential. They pride themselves on bringing out the best in students. I think that may be the ideal place for you to learn and grow. Good choice.</p>

<p>Well, my dad thinks I should go to Rutgers @ Newark or Virginia Tech University but I think I'll stick with Oxford. I just have to read a lot over the summer and right now. I want to increase my writing skills, reading speed, and my ability to grasp concepts faster without having to read things over so much. I'm just looking for good ways to handle stress, and prepare for a drastic lifestyle and change.</p>